title: Vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic and nondiabetic canine cataract patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in aqueous humor, serum, and plasma in diabetic and nondiabetic cataractous dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canine VEGF was assayed in the plasma and serum of 32 dogs (20 diabetics; 12 nondiabetics) and aqueous humor in 57 eyes of those dogs (39 diabetic; 18 nondiabetic) undergoing phacoemulsification, using a commercial canine VEGF assay. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's PLSD, t-test, and regression analysis to compare values by diabetic status, duration of diabetes, age, weight, gender, left vs. right eye, and blood clarity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma, but not serum or aqueous humor VEGF values of diabetics were significantly greater than nondiabetics (P = 0.019). Older nondiabetics (10-15 years) had higher plasma VEGF values than younger (0-5 and 5-10 years) dogs (P = 0.0002 and 0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in aqueous humor VEGF between left and right eyes in all patients. Serum and plasma, but not aqueous humor, VEGF values in females were significantly higher than males in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to human diabetic patients, VEGF aqueous humor values in all dogs are significantly higher than blood values. Aqueous humor VEGF values in human diabetics are elevated and correlate with the severity of diabetic retinopathy. However, aqueous humor values of VEGF in diabetic dogs are not greater than nondiabetics and may serve to protect the dog against development of diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Ophthalmology Services, Inc., Warwick, RI, USA. kabrams@peteyespecialist.com
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Stabila
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kauper
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000737:chemistry; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A